And the survey says ... Participants in a discussion forum and survey on a possible “visioning” plan for Columbia selected community aspects they were most interested in seeing included in such a plan. Participants could select as many aspects as they liked. The percentages reflect the proportion of responses each category received.

Source: City of Columbia

Lora England graphic

Most of the Columbia residents who attended a kick-off event for the city’s "visioning" effort are white, have household incomes of more than $50,000 and are concerned about the environment.

Those statistics and others are included in a report from a consultant hired by the city to analyze and evaluate the "Imagine Columbia’s Future" forum May 8. The report, released today, details responses from attendees to questionnaires distributed at the forum.

The city paid ACP Visioning and Planning $15,000 to compile the report, which states there is "unequivocal support for the notion of developing a vision program in Columbia."

"People who attended the visioning forum feel strongly about the visioning process, we’re happy to say," said Assistant City Manager Paula Hertwig Hopkins, who so far has spearheaded the project.

Of the estimated 400 people who attended, 280 - about 70 percent - returned surveys. Almost 90 percent said they believe a broad-based, long-range planning effort "would benefit our community."

Among other findings included in the report:

● Two-thirds of respondents said their annual household income was more than $50,000. Thirty-one percent said they have incomes above $100,000.

● Blacks accounted for only 4.8 percent of returned surveys but make up about 11 percent of Columbia’s population.

With the consultant’s findings in hand, city officials now will decide whether the project will continue. Visioning will be discussed at a Columbia City Council retreat later this month in Excelsior Springs.

City Manager Bill Watkins said today if the project moves forward, efforts will be made to include low-income, minority and younger Columbia residents. He said future meetings about the project likely will be held throughout the city to encourage more people to participate. "I think we did a pretty good job of reaching out to the community," Watkins said. "We can always do better."

Copies of the report are available at www.GoColumbiaMo.com.

SECOND THOUGHTS: Friday, June 2, 2006

A story yesterday incorrectly quoted Carol Van Gorp of the Columbia Board of Realtors as saying there were no houses listed for sale in Columbia under $100,000. Van Gorp was referring only to new construction.